Fluorescent tubular lamp



J. F. LIVERS FLUORESGENT TUBULAR LAMP Filed Aug. 15,1940

R.. m.. N R E Wm Il. :1. M JMA Afro/mfr Patented Dec. 22, 19.42

FLUORESCENT TUBLAR John F. Livers, Decatur, 111.', assignor to Fal-les Manufacturing Company,` Decatur, lll., a corporation of Illinois Application August 15, 1940, Serial No. 352,731

4 Claims. (Cl. 240-81) My invention relates to lamps which employ the fluorescent lightl source. Lamps of this type withwhich I am familiar are subject to one or more of the following objections.

Many of them concentrate the light rays emitted by the fluorescent tubeV in an area adjacent to the axis of the tube with the result that that portion of the desk used for work has a much lower candle power, causing a very unsatisfactory working condition. Attempts to remedy have been made by attempting to'project the light rays onto that part of the desk. This however, resultsl in causing veiling glare with its grave objections. Especially is this the case if the fluorescent tube is exposed without any protective means. v

My invention has forkits principal object to overcome these objectionable'features peculiar to fluorescent lighting by combining two types of reflectors which partially surround the light source and associating them with one or more louvers or screens, which are rotatably mounted, iso that it ls possible to redirect the rays as desired.

A further object is to provide for mounting the entire reflecting assembly and its housing so that its position can be variedl so as to distribute the light rays to meet various conditions such as dimensions of the-areas to be illuminated, sensitiveness of the eyes 'of a user or his stature.

A further object is to provide means for detachably mounting the louvers so that they may be easily and quickly removed, thus affording easy access to the lamp either to clean or replace it or to clean the reflecting surfaces. lA. further object is to mount'the lamp so that a portion of it will project below the lip of the reflector.

My means of accomplishing the foregoing ob- .jects may be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing which is hereunto annexed and forms a part of this specification in which: l

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my device;

Fig. 2 is a `cross section on line 2-2, Fig. 1, looking in direction of the arrow;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentarydetail view of a race- Way.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the entire specification.

As shown in the drawing, my lamp has a base I0, which obviously may be of any desired contour. A pair of standards I2 and Il, extend upwardly from the base I0. Secured to the top of the standards I2 and It, is a reflector housing I6, which is secured by means of adjustable joints The housing is formed with a vertical rear wall 20, a horizontal top wall 22, and a forwardly projectng extension 24, which is inclined downwardly and has a plane surface the inner side of which is nished with a diffuse reflecting coating such as baked white enamel. The ends of the housing I6 are closed by end walls 26 and 28.

Adjacent each end of the 'housing I mount the 'sockets 29 and 30, to support the ends of the fluorescent tube 32, which forms the light sourcel for the lamp. Above and partially surrounding the light source 32, I mount a reector 34, the

inner surface of which is coated with any suitable specular reflecting medium.

In practice I have found it satisfactory to form this reflector 34 of Alzak processed aluminum. Preferably the upper front edge 36, of this reflector 34, should terminate adjacent the beginning of the diffuse reflecting medium on the extension 24, of the reflector housing I6.

On each of the end walls 26 and 28, I mount raceways 31 and 38, respectively. These ra'ceways are adapted to receive the ends 40, of two flat louvers 42 and 44, one side 46, of which is coate'd with a reflecting medium, the other side 4,8, being coated with a mat black coating. These louvers 42 and M, are rotatable in their respective raceways 31 and 38. A convenient way to remove them for cleaning them or the reflectors, or to change the light source, is afforded by means of slots 50 and 52.

It will be clear to persons skilled in the art that in this way I provide for quick and easy adjustment of these louvers so as to direct the light rays emitted by the light source 32. Also that by means of the adjusting nuts. I8, the

' entire housing assembly may be shifted in order to obtain different distribution of the light flux as may be desired or required, for portable or clamp type desk or floor lamp.

Having described my invention, what I regard as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A portable lamp comprising a fluorescent light source,4 a specular reflector above and partially surrounding said light source, said reflector extending longitudinally of the lightvsource and parallel thereto, a reflector housing above said light source having a forwardly projecting extension which extends beyond the front edge of the reflector, the edge of which is on a horizontal plane passing through the axis of the light `source, said extension being coated with a difhousing, raeways secured to the inner surface of said end portions, a pair of louvers the ends of which are rotatably mounted in said raceways, one side of each o! said louvers being a reflector the other side having a dull black coating, said raceways being located below the axis of the light source and between it and the edge of the housing.

through the axis of the light source, said extension having its inner surface coated with a diffuse reecting medium, a pair of louvers adapted to be manually adjusted and partially eclipse said light source, one side of said louvers being coated with a reiiecting medium, the other being coated with a dull black finish, and raceways on said housing in which are rotatably mounted the ends of said louver, said louvers being mounted in staggered relation below the axis of the light source and between it and the edge of the forwardly projecting portion of the housing. y

3. A portable lamp comprising a uorescent light source, a specular reector mounted above and longitudinally thereto, said reflector partially surrounding the light source and being parallel to it, a. reector housing which partially avai" encloses said reflector, a forwardly projecting extension on.V4 said housing, which extends beyond the iront edge of the reilector and projects in a slanting direction until its edge in tersects a horizontal plane passing through the axis of the light source, said extension having in staggered relation below the axis of the light y source, and between it and the edge of the forwardly projecting portion of the housing, there being means to detachably mount said louvers in said raceways.

4. A desk lamp comprising a fluorescent light source, `Aa specular reector above and partially surrounding said light source, said reflector extending longitudinally of thevlight source and parallel thereto, a diffusing member projecting forwardly from the front edge of the reflector and extending to a horizontal plane passing through the longitudinal axis of said light source, end portions for said reilector, raceways secured to the inner surface of said end portions, and louvers having-their ends rotatably and removably mounted in said raceways; said louvers being located below a plane passing through the axis of the light source and the front edge of said diffusing member.

JOHN F. LIVERS.

its inner surface coated with a diffuse reect-Y 

